Description

Under the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (MDMER), mines are required, as part of Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) studies, to conduct effluent and water quality monitoring studies, which include sublethal toxicity testing. Sublethal toxicity tests provide a measure of effluent quality by assessing the effects of chronic exposure to effluent on the survival, growth, and/or reproduction in marine or freshwater organisms under controlled laboratory conditions. Results are reported either as a 50% lethal effluent concentration (LC50), a 25% inhibition concentration (IC25), or a 25% effective concentration (EC25). Sublethal toxicity testing is conducted on samples of effluent taken from the mine’s final discharge point that has potentially the most adverse environmental impact. When a mine becomes subject to the MDMER, sublethal toxicity testing is conducted twice every year for a period of three years on a fish, invertebrate, and algae species, in addition to, for mines discharging to freshwater environments, a plant species. After three years, sublethal toxicity testing is required every calendar quarter on the species that showed the greatest sensitivity to effluent. Further information on sublethal toxicity testing requirements, including the reference methods and test species, and conditions for reduced monitoring, can be found in the MDMER. The data and information are published as reported by mines and have not been verified for accuracy and completeness.

Resources

Name	Format	Description	Link
Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) - Metal and Diamond Mines – Sublethal Toxicity Testing	HTML		https://data-donnees.az.ec.gc.ca/data/substances/monitor/environmental-effects-monitoring/metal-and-diamond-mines-sublethal-toxicity-testing?lang=en
Études de suivi des effets sur l’environnement (ESEE) - Mines de métaux et de diamants  –  Essais de toxicité sublétale	HTML		https://data-donnees.az.ec.gc.ca/data/substances/monitor/environmental-effects-monitoring/metal-and-diamond-mines-sublethal-toxicity-testing?lang=fr

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